Main Article Content
Abstract (in English)
Climate change poses serious challenges to agriculture in Afghanistan, a country largely dependent on rainfed farming and highly vulnerable to water scarcity, drought, and temperature extremes. Understanding the impacts of climate variability and identifying effective adaptation strategies are essential to sustain agricultural productivity and ensure food security. This systematic review synthesizes empirical, modeling, and review studies on climate change effects on Afghan agriculture, assesses adaptation measures, and integrates regional experiences from Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. A structured literature search was conducted using peer-reviewed articles, institutional reports, and regional studies published between 2000 and 2025. Studies were selected based on relevance to Afghan agro-ecological systems, climate stressors, and adaptation strategies. We extracted data using a structured table format following PRISMA guidelines, combining national and regional evidence. Findings indicate that water scarcity, prolonged drought, rising temperatures, and erratic precipitation are the main stressors affecting major crops, including wheat, barley, chickpea, maize, and cotton. Yield reductions ranged from 12% to 25% across provinces. Adaptation strategies such as Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), efficient irrigation (drip and sprinkler), rainwater harvesting, mulching, and drought- or heat-tolerant crop varieties were most effective. Regional evidence confirms the transferability of these measures under similar agro-climatic conditions. In conclusion, climate change significantly threatens agricultural productivity in Afghanistan. Evidence-based adaptation strategies, supported by coordinated policy and capacity-building initiatives, can enhance resilience, protect rural livelihoods, and ensure sustainable food security.